No Saint: Impeachment Charges Begin for N.O. Federal Judge

After Monday night’s thumping of the Patriots, the nation may be forced to realized that, possibly for the first time in their 42-year history, the Saints are among the NFL’s very best.

But in other walks of life, it’s business as usual down in New Orleans, which has seen its fair share of corruption scandals throughout the year. The scandal du jour down in the Big Easy involves New Orleans federal judge Thomas Porteous, currently facing impeachment charges by the U.S. House. Porteous is accused of soliciting money from lawyers who appeared before him. Click here for today’s WSJ story, from Nathan Koppel and Dionne Searcey; here for a recent story from the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Hearings into the matter involving Judge Porteous began last month and more are likely in coming weeks. If the House ultimately votes to impeach Judge Porteous, the Senate would hold a trial and vote on whether he should be removed from his position.

The Justice Department conducted an extended investigation into the bribery allegations and ultimately decided not to indict Porteous. However, a federal judicial panel in September 2008 suspended the Clinton appointee, saying . . .